Council asks developer of one of Nottinghamshire’s largest solar farms to address ‘significant adverse effects’

Newark and Sherwood District Council has asked the developer of one of Nottinghamshire’s largest solar farms to address a number of “likely significant adverse effects” before full plans are submitted.

If approved, the One Earth solar farm would cover 170 agricultural fields spread across the Bassetlaw and Newark and Sherwood districts, near Dunham-on-Trent, and parts of Lincolnshire.

The site would span around 2.8 miles (4.5km) in a north to south direction and approximately 5miles (8km) in an east to west direction, providing renewable energy for more than 200,000 homes.

The project is being brought forward by PS Renewables and Danish energy company Ørsted.

Plans are likely to be submitted early next year, and the developer has been seeking feedback from local residents and relevant councils as part of a compulsory consultation.

The solar farm proposal has just passed the pre-application stage, and during a Newark and Sherwood District Council Planning Committee meeting on August 1, councillors noted the authority’s own response to the consultation.

Its published response highlights potential problems with biodiversity, buried and cultural heritage, a lack of perceived benefits for local residents and disruption from cabling.

“The council notes that the preliminary assessment identifies a number of topic areas with likely significant adverse effects,” its response document says.

“The council expect a full and robust Environmental Statement that quantifies and clearly explains the significance of effects across all topic areas, including the extent of residual effects once mitigation is applied.”

During the meeting Cllr Keith Melton, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “There seems to be no problem in reaching 10 per cent biodiversity net gain, and perhaps they could be more enthusiastic about getting to 20 per cent.

“The point on solar farms is that when you are treating land, that has been arable land particularly, it is extremely easy to get 100 per cent net gain without changing the nature of the biodiversity available in the area.

“If it is the case that this particular applicant for the solar farm is being slow to react with us in terms of biodiversity net gain, then they should be made aware they are a long, long way behind the apparent best practice of Elements Green another solar developer, which has been interacting with us in terms of biodiversity net gain, looking at increases hugely different.

“We should be expecting biodiversity net gain to be 300 to 400 per cent in solar farm areas on the basis of what we know.”

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Melton said other developers had been more willing to talk about environmental impacts, including Elements Green, which is behind the Great Northern Road solar park.

“They need to talk to us a bit more about their intentions, Cllr Melton added. “We want to get the best options for our residents.”

Cllr Peter Harris (Lib Dems) said: “I think one of the things that concerns many residents in this is the fact there is no material gain or benefit for them, benefits are all elsewhere – and even off-shore sometimes – and it is very disappointing this particular application hasn’t addressed that potential issue.”

Some changes have already been made as part of the consultation, which includes the removal of some ‘developable’ areas around North Clifton and South Clifton, alongside an area of land near Thorney.

All solar farms that generate more than 50MW are decided by the Government’s Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, rather than local authorities.

A decision is expected around spring 2026.